Oil-switch.



H. L. VAN VALKENBURG.

on. SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. Z5, 1905. 922,8258 Patented May 25, 19091. 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

su fm H. L. VAN VALKENBURG. OIL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1905. 9229251 Patented May 25,1909.

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H. L. VAN VALKENBURG. OIL SWITCH.

. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1905. 922,825, Patented May 25, 1909.

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HERMON L. VAN VALKENBURG, OF NORWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BULLOGK ELECTRIC MANUFACTURNG COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHO.

ern-surance.

no. ceases.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, Hannon L.v VAN VALKENBURG, citizen ol the United States, residing at Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Oil- Switches, otwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact s ieciioication.

illy invention relates to switches, and particularly to oil switches intended for high voltage service.

@ne of the objects ci my ifivention is to provide a switch of the multiple break type which will be simple in construction, durable, effective, and easy to assemble and with all parts easily removable lor the purpose oi repairs.

A further object is to provide simple mechanism for raising or lowering the oil tank at will and for holding the same in its raised position.

A still further object is to provide an oil switch of the four-break type in which all danger of short-circuits between the contacts is eliminated.

My invention consists in certain novel details oi construction and combination of elements set forth in the following description and appended claims.

Reference. is had to the accompanying drawings, in which* i Figure 1 is a section of my improved switch, along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2i, looking` in the direction oi the arrows, some 'of the elements being shown in elevation F ig. 2 is a section of my switch approximately along the line 2-2 oi" Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan view ci my switch, the operating mechanism being removed and showing also portions ol' tvio other similar switches; Fig. l is a front elevation of my switch and supporting wall, showing in elevation the tank moving mechanism; and Fig. 5 is a section on a reduced scale, along the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

l l have shown in the drawings a four-break single-pole switch, two or more of which are adapted to be mounted side by side preferably in a concrete or brick wall, as shown at 1, and 3 in Fig. 3. l wish it understood however that most of the features oi my invention are not confined in their application to a -switch of the single-pole four-break type, nor is it material in what manner my switch is supported. l have in this instance shown a switch support consisting of a. rear wall a Specification ci' Letters Patent.

atented ll/.ay 25, 1909.

Serial No. 275,844.

of concrete or brick having 'forwardly extending walls 5 forming compartments in each ol' which one of my switches is adapted to be mounted. Forming the cover for each of Athe compartments and resting on the rear and side walls is a slab or plate of insulating material 6 preferably of soapstone which supports the switch contacts, as will be described later. rllhe slab ol'x insulating material is held in place by bolts or tie-rods 7 embedded in the concrete or brick walls. These bolts support. at their lower ends, channel irons 8, between which is a iiller o'l concreto or cement 9.

Extending through, and babbitted or ccmented to 'the slab 5 are two porcelain bushings 10, 10, into which are held preferably by cement vertical positive and negative contact terminal rods 11 and 1'1. These two contact rods'arc connected to the main line leads or conductors 12 and 12 by threaded sleeves 13, one of which is shown in Fig. 1.

4Two inverted porcelain cups, 1s, 14 are also held in the insulating slab by cement or any other suitable -means. These cups and bushings are spaced equal distances apart and are arranged in a circle about the axis of the switch. Supported preferably by cement in these'two cups 14 are toe vertical auxiliary contact rods 15 and 15. Adjustably secured to each ol' the rods 11, 11/ and 15, 15 are contact-finger holders 16, on which are mounted contact .Vingers 17. The contact lingers on rods 11 and 15 rare in the same horizontal. plane, while the ngers on rods 11 and 15 are in another, but lower plane. Supported on the lower ends oi' the rods 11, 11, 15 and 15/ by nuls 1S is a second slab oi insulating material 1S). This slab holds the rods in a iixcd, parallel position. Journaled in the upper lace of this slab is a vertical rotatable shalt 2() carrying the insulating drum 21, preferably oi' wood. Supported on this drum in two horizontal planes and at right angles to each other are the bridging cross-arms 22 and 22. rlie cross-arms are arranged in planes to engage the lingers on the rods 11, 11, 15 and 15, the upper crossarm 22 being adapted to engage the lingers on rods 11 and 15 and the lower cross-arm 22 being adapted to engage the 'lingers on the rods 11 and 15/. The two rods 15 and 15 are connected at their extremities by the connecting strap 23, the latter being held between nuts 18, 24. Thus it is seen that l llO I fore the spark at break will be distributed at4 have a single-pole, four-break switch. When the latter is closed the path of the current is as follows-from the main positive lead 12 to contact terminal rod .11, through the upper cross-arm 22 lto contact rod 15 through strap23 to contact rod 15, through crossarm 22 to contactA terminal rod 11 and to negative lead 12.' The contacts are so arranged that the circuits are closed or broken at the four points simultaneously and therethe four points and will be comparatively small even at high voltages. The shaft 20 passes through the plate 25, above the slab 6 and is connected at its outer extremity to the arm 26, to which may be connected any suitable operating mechanism. The collar 27 holds the shaft from vertical movement. When the switch is open there is considerable difference of potential between the contacts. In order to prevent an arc from jumping between the contacts in the two planes I separate the` contacts by a novel form of insulating barrier or partition, This barrier consists of two or more sheets or plates of insulating material 28 spaced apart so that when assembled there will be a layer of oil between each adjacentpair of sheets. Each sheet or plate entirely surrounds the drum, being here shown as composed of four parts or quadrants supported on the rods 11, 11,15 and 15. By building up'the insulating sheets or plates of sections in this manner they can be more readily assembled. The rods are in this instance shown as surrounded by sleeves of insulating material 29 and 30, and the sheets` or lates 28 are held between washers 31 of insu ating material and spaced apart by washers 32. The washers are mounted on the sleeves 29 between sections of the sleeves 30. I wish it understood, however7 that it is immaterial how the barrier is supported, having merely shown one methodwhich may be employed. v The oil between the sheets is the principal insulator, the sheets of insulating material serving simply to prevent the spark from' blowing away the oil and starting a short-circuit between the contacts. Any number of sheets may be employed, I having shown in this instance only two.

One of the important features of my invention is my oil tank lifting and holding mechanism, which will now be described.

The oil tank is shown at 33, and is normally held against the lower side of the slab 6 in such a manner as to surround all the switch contacts. The tank may be made of any suitable material and is lined Von the infier side with insulating material, as is shown at 34. Located at each side and near the rear of the tank are two vertical guide rods 35. Pivoted at 36 on each of these rods 35 is a forwardly extending arm 37, which arms 37 are connected at thelr outer free ends by a @eases cross-rod 38. ivoted to the arms 37 substantially midway between the ends thereof are two upwardly extending arms 39 which engage lugs 40 at the sides of the oil tank. The tank is provided at each side with two or more lugs or shoes 41 which engage the guide rods 35. The entire weight of the tank is taken by the arms 39, which are arranged at such an angle that there is always a back pressure holding the shoes against the guide rods. Thus by simply swinging the arms 37, the tank can be lowered from the normal upper position to the lower position, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. I have here shown two hooks 42 for engaging the cross-rod 38 to hold the tank in its up er position. These hooks are suspended on fiolts' 43 by wing-nuts 44. Thus when it is desired to hold the tank in the upper position, the rod is engaged by the hooks 42, and the nuts 44 are turned to raise the tank into close 'contact with the slab 6. Thus it is seen that my tank lifting mechanism is simple, effective, and can be quickly operated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new-and desire to secure by Letl.ters Patent, is:

1. Ina four-break single-pole switch, a

supporting plate, four insulated parallel rods extending t eref'rom, and arranged in a circle at equal distances apart, two of said rods being connected to the main line leads and the other two being connected together, contact fingers on each of said rods, the fingers on two diametrically opposite rods being in the same horizontal plane, the fingers on the other two rods being 1n another lower plane, and a rotatable insulating member havingbridging contact arms arran ed at angles of 90o with each other and in, p anes to engage the contact fingers. Y

2. In a multiple break switch, a horizontal su porting member, a pairf of main Contact ro s extending through said supporting member and being adapted toV be connected to line leads or conductors, a pair of secondary -or auxiliary contact rods extending downward from said supporting member, all said contact rods being equally spaced about the axis of the switch, said main contact rods having contact members arranged in different horizontal planes, and each of said auxiliary contact rods having a contact member diametrically opposite and in the plane of the contact-member on one of the main contact rods, means electrically connecting said auxiliary contact rods, and acentrally located rotary switch member-having two contact' members, each arranged to bridge the contact members on a main and an auxiliary contact rod. y

3. In an oil switch, an oil tank, a centrally located vertical rotary switch member, positive and negative contact terminals extending downward into the tank and having staceases tionary contacts arranged in different horizontal planes, auxiliary stationary contacts arranged opposite and in the planes oi the contacts connected to the positive and negative terminals, bridgin contact members carried by the rotary switch member and arranged in planes to bridge the stationary contacts, and a horizontal 1nsulating barrier between the contacts of the positive and negative terminals. 1

d. lna multibreak switch, a horizontal sup orting member, a pair of insulating bushings extending through the same, contact rods secured in said bushings and being adapted to be connected to line leads or conductors, a pair oi inverted cup shaped insulators secured in said horizontal supporting member, a pair 0i secondary or auxiliary contact rods having their upper ends extending into 'and secured to said insulators, all of said contact rods being equally spaced about the axis of the switch, said main contact rods having contact mernbers arranged in diiierent horizontal planes, each of said auxiliary contact rods having a contact member diametrically opposite and in the plane of the contact members on one of said main contact rods, means electrically connecting said auxiliaryl contact rods, and a centrally located rotary switch member having two contact members arranged so as to bridge the contact members ondthe main and on the auxiliary contact ro s. Y

5. Aln a switch, an oil tank, a plurality oi contact rods in said tank, contacts on said rods, said contact rods being arranged at 'equal distances apart about the center oi lLi() the tank, and insulating barriers or partitions between the contacts, each including a sheet or plate oi insulating material composed of sector-like sections mounted on the contact rods.

6. ln an oil switch, a plurality oi stationary contacts, a central. rotary switch member and a separating barrier comprising a plurality of spaced parallel sheets oi insulating material, each entirely surrounding the rotary switch member, and formed of sector-like sections.

7. ln an oil switch, an oil tank,`a plurality of stationary contacts surrounded by oil, a central rotary contact carrying drum, and a barrier or partition separating the contacts, said barrier comprising a plurality of sheets of insulating material, spaced apart so that between adjacent sheets there will be a layer of oil, each entirely surrounding the rotary drum and formed of wedge-shaped sections.

8. ln a single pole, iour break switch, four equally spaced vertical contact rods, contacts carried thereby, said contacts being arrangedl in twgr planes, one vertically above the other, and a separating barrier comprising a plurality of sheets or plates of insulating material, each formed of sectorlike quadrantsv supported on said contact rods.

9. ln an oil switch, a horizontal supporting member, an oil tank, and means for raising and lowering said tank comprising a pair of levers connected to a stationary support and a pair oi links pivoted to said ylevers and connected to opposite sides oi the tank, and means for holding the levers and tank in raised position.

l0. ln an oil switch, a horizontal support for the switch mechanism, an oil tank, mechanism for swinging said tank toward and away from said support comprising a pair of pivoted levers connected togetherl at their iree ends and having operative connection intermediate their ends to opposite sides oi the tank, and means for attaching the outer free end of said mechanism to said support to hold the tank in its normal upper position.

` ll. ln an oil switch, a horizontal supporting member, an oil tank, a pair of vertical guides along which said tank is adapted to be moved and means Jfor moving said tank along said guides comprising a pivoted lever connected to a stationary member and having operative connection with the tank, and means for attaching the outer end of the lever to the support so as to hold the tank in its upper position.

l2.- ln an oil switch, a movable oil tank,

means for moving said tank, comprising a lever pivoted to a stationary member, and a link connected to said lever and to said tank, and means Jfor holding said lever and tank in raised osition.

13. ln an oi switch, a movable cil tank, means for lifting and lowering said tank at will comprising a lever arm, a link connecting said lever arm to said tank, and vertical guide rods between which said tank is adapted to move, and means for holding the tank and tank moving mechanism in raised position.

11i. ln an oil switch, a horizontal support, an oil tank, means for raising and lowerin said tank comprising a pair of levers pivote( to a support and having operative connection to opposite sides of the tank, means connecting together the free ends of the levers, and means on the horizontal support in a position to engage the connecting means of the levers to hold the tank in its raised position. Y

ln testimony whereof l aix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

llllltllll li. VAN VALKENBURG. lfitnes'ses 1 Sanremo Kram,

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